Selling Your Collectible Cars

___I find that many people look through my website trying to determine if the cars they have in their attic are worth anything. I used to run more than 100 small cars a week on eBay auctions and have done more than 25,000 of them, but the market has changed significantly of late.

___Ebay had already changed the market. Why? Because everyone was cleaning out their attics and trying to sell them and lots of people were buying collections at garage sales and reselling them either as a collection or individually for profit. Now, there are just too many of them out there. Truly rare versions would have pulled more money but your common ones had come down in value. Now with the downturn in the economy, even more people are trying to get what they can from stuff in their attics. I've been getting two or three inquiries per week from people wanting to sell their collections. I remember back in '98 when I paid $19.00 on Ebay for one Matchbox car in fair condition. A few years ago I would have been lucky to get $3-$4 for the same car.

___So, I am sorry to say that is difficult to get much money for collections, especially if they are newer than the 1960's or '70's. Your best bet is to list them as a collection or in groups on Ebay. Selling them individually is very time consuming and only recomended if you do it as a hobby and find listing auctions fun in and of itself. I might consider a collection if they are pre 1970 Matchbox or 1970's if they are close to mint condition. I also would consider the Matchbox Premieres muscle cars if they are mint and Johnny Lightning or Racing Champions versions of Muscle Cars or Police Cars also in mint condition, but not of the Nascars. Even at those I can't give a lot for them just because the market is so soft. Other than that I am no longer buying them.

___If you're looking to find out what your cars are worth, remember, as they say on the Antiques Road Show, condition is everything. Even a tiny chip can knock a car out of the "mint condition" category into the next level down. If you take the time to look at some of the cars on this site you'll find that I try to be very honest about the condition of each car and provide close-up photos of them as well (usually both sides). I want my buyers to know what they're getting and to be happy with their purchases. The prices I list on my web site are based both on book value and my auction experience with the condition factored in.

___When I'm reviewing a collection to buy, I look them over to determine what is the highest price I would bid for them if I was buying them at auction. That amount is what I'd offer to you for yours. Sometimes I get outbid at auctions, quite often I win them, and occasionally I get them for less than I was willing to pay simply because no one bid against me. By selling them direct to me, you'd get at least my highest amount. I'm very candid and not here to play games with values. My feelings won't be hurt if you don't want to sell them to me; Please, don't have your feelings bothered if what I offer isn't what you had hoped. Again, the market is very weak right now.

___There was one place that was a retail store here in Washington that sold HotWheels and Racing Champions. I have not been there in a couple of years so I have no idea if they are buying or still selling them, but their e-mail was gofast@tgi.net. You might try them to see if they are buying anything.

___I don't do evaluations of individual cars. There are plenty of books out there to help you with that. A good author for some is Charlie Mack. You can probably get his books through Amazon.com (just search by Authors) or there is a good web site with direct links to his stuff: http://www.mboxcommunity.com/.

___If you want a quote from me, I need a list and some decent pictures of what you have (pictures can be sent either via e-mail or by snail mail to the address at the bottom of this page). If you don't have a list or know what they are send some decent pictures of them in groups. Pictures need to be clear enough for me to see what they are, if they are missing parts, and what type of wheels they have. Shoot a couple shots of them in small groups from left front corner angle and right rear corner angle. I'll be perfectly candid (trying not to be brutal) and let you know exactly what I'd give you for them.

___So, with all of that being said, thank you for taking the time to visit Fotrek and please feel free to take at my Body Shop web site NorthwestTinman.com. It doesn't matter if you're seeking to sell, seeking to buy, or just reminiscing about those toys you should have kept (that's what got me back into it). I hope you have some fun.